---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to arouse envy than pity."
description: "\"It is better to arouse envy than pity.\" — Publilius Syrus"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/publilius-syrus-594_envy_it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity-10_1022235.png"
---

#  It is better to arouse envy than pity.

![“It is better to arouse envy than pity.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/publilius-syrus-594_envy_it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity-10_1022235.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/publilius-syrus-594_envy_it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity-10_1022235.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/publilius-syrus-594_envy_it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity-10_1022235.png)

> “It is better to arouse envy than pity.”

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Envy can be a stronger motivator than pity, driving ambition and action.

**In simple terms:** Envy pushes you harder than sympathy.

Key Takeaway

Channel envy into productive effort.

Themes

motivation envy pride

Mood

determined cautious

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career competition
- personal goals
- creative endeavors
- leadership

Key Concepts

philosophy human behavior social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you use envy constructively?
- When does envy become harmful?

A Different Perspective

Envy may breed resentment if unchecked.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“She preferred to be at the receiving end of envy than pity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/she-preferred-to-be-at-the-receiving-end-of-envy-than-pity/)

[Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/)

> [Don't pity the girl with one true friend. Envy her. Pity the girl with just a thousand acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-obenchain/don-t-pity-the-girl-with-one-true-friend-envy-her-pity-the-girl-with/)

Katie Obenchain

> [Let others either envy or pity me; I care not, so long as I enjoy myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/let-others-either-envy-or-pity-me-i-care-not-so-long-as-i-enjoy-myself/)

[Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/)

> [The gilded sheath of pity sometimes covers the dagger of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-gilded-sheath-of-pity-sometimes-covers-the-dagger-of-envy/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [“I lowered my hands and stared at the tiny horse, considering his question. I couldn’t think of anyone I’d ever felt sorry for. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-lowered-my-hands-and-stared-at-the-tiny-horse-considering-his/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [I feel what they feel: man-hating, that volatile admixture of pity, contempt, disgust, envy, alienation, fear, and rage at men. It is hatred not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-levine/i-feel-what-they-feel-man-hating-that-volatile-admixture-of-pity/)

Judith Levine

> [O thou who art able to write a Book, which once in the two centuries or oftener there is a man gifted to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-who-art-able-to-write-a-book-which-once-in-the-two-centuries/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [But there are times when a tree can no longer withstand the pain inflicted on it, and the wind will take pity on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-lester/but-there-are-times-when-a-tree-can-no-longer-withstand-the-pain/)

[Julius Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-lester/)

> [A fight is going on inside me," said an old man to his son. "It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/a-fight-is-going-on-inside-me-said-an-old-man-to-his-son-it-is-a/)

[Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/)

> [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/)

[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [I now began for the first time to envy those young cubs at the university who had fine scholars to tell them what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-now-began-for-the-first-time-to-envy-those-young-cubs-at-the/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/)

[Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/)

> [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

## More by Publilius Syrus

> [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [The evil you do to others you may expect in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

[Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

## More Envy quotes

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/)

[Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/)

> [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [“Is it not strange that the more someone has, the less he feels he has? Envy can never be sated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/is-it-not-strange-that-the-more-someone-has-the-less-he-feels-he-has/)

[Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/)

> [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/)

[Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/)

> [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/)

[Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/)

> [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [“Who would have thought you had so many supporters?" she whispered. "Not mine, my love. Yours. I had not a one till you started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/who-would-have-thought-you-had-so-many-supporters-she-whispered-not/)

[Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/)

> [“Treachery is always a hairy caterpillar bred of a small butterfly called envy, no matter how lofty the principles involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fazil-iskander/treachery-is-always-a-hairy-caterpillar-bred-of-a-small-butterfly/)

Fazil Iskander

> [Yes, Clay Matthews has a long, golden, Fabio-esque flowing mane that most women would chick-slap someone for. And yes, the shiny, beautiful, dark locks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/yes-clay-matthews-has-a-long-golden-fabio-esque-flowing-mane-that/)

[Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/)

> [“I have known many true connoisseurs, with excellent tastes that range across the humanities and the culinary arts--and they never fail to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-have-known-many-true-connoisseurs-with-excellent-tastes-that-range/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

[Browse all 2,111 Envy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is better to arouse envy than pity.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Publilius Syrus"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Envy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/publilius-syrus-594_envy_it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity-10_1022235.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/publilius-syrus-594_envy_it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity-10_1022235.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/publilius-syrus-594_envy_it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity-10_1022235.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is better to arouse envy than pity.” — Publilius Syrus",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Publilius Syrus",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is better to arouse envy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-better-to-arouse-envy-than-pity/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```